Spark-plug.



H, A. MYERS,

SPARK PLUG.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I, my. I

Patented June 4, 19l&

L5? Lin ms.

1,268,3hfi. fipeciii a on at letters Eatent.

Application died May 7, 1533?.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that i, Honenr A. time, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Toledo, Lucas county, (lhio, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Spark-Plugs, of which the followinw is a specification.

My invention relates to spark plugs for internal combustion engines.

Generally stated, the object of my inven tion is to provide novel and improved means for preventing the accumulation of carbon on the inner end-portion of the plug.

A special object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby rm ovable elements, such for example as porcelain balls, are employed for preventing the accumulation of carbon around the inner en of the plug, so that the plug will, so to spak, be self-cleaning in character.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction tendingto increase the general eficiency and desirability of a self-cleaning spark plug of this particular construction.

To the foregoing and other useful ends,

my invention consists in niatters'hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a vertical section of a selfcleaning spark plug embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

As thus illustrated, my invention cornprises a bushing or socket-piece A which is screwedinto the engine-cylinder in the usual and well-known manner. The porcelain member B can be of any suitable or desired form or construction, but as shown is provided with a shoulder which ispressed downward by the screw-threaded packingnut C, which latter screws into the upper end of the socket-piece A, asbestos packing D being provided around this shoulder to make a tight joint. if desired, a porcelain collar E can be inserted in the lower portion of the socket-piece A, to item a support tor the shoulder h, and for this purpose the lower end of the socket-piece A is provided with a shoulder a to support the lower end @li i lhoha Patented June 4:, rats.

iseriel as. 166,859.

provision to limit the downward movement of the insulating balls F, and to thus prevent said balls from gettinginto the path of the spark, the spark gap being formed by stationary means so that the spark gap is always the same. These balls can be of any suitable character, such as porcelain with rough surfaces, and (arranged in this manner) these balls are adapted to be agitated and moved up anddown by the explosions and vibrations of the engine, so that they keep the adjacent surface of the porcelain B clean and free from carbon, thereby preventing the inner end of the plug from becoming clogged in the well-known manner of ordinary plugs, with the result that the plug shown and described is practically self cleaning in character.

The collar E can be omitted, it such is desired, as the balls can be arranged to move up vaiud down between the porcelain B and the inner surface of the socket-piece A, but for some purposes the use of said collar is preferable and desirable. Also, the balls F can be of any suitable shape or size and arranged in any suitable or desired manner, the essential requirement being that they be free to have suiiicient movement to enable them to continually rub the porcelain B and thereby prevent the inner end-portion oi the plug from filling up with carbon.

The movable balls F, it will be seen, not only keep the adjacent surface of the insulator B free from carbon, but also serve to scour the inner surface of the collar E, so that the space 7 is prevented from filling up with carbon. Qt course, these balls, by contact with each other, and with the surfaces between which they slide ,up and down, prevent their own surfaces from accumulating carbon thereon. it the ring E is not used,

these balls wil then mo e p nd d n wi h direct contact with the inner surface oi the metal socket-piece A, and this surface will be kept clean in thfisarne Way,

It will be seen that the elements or halls F are so arranged that they are subject to movement by the internal pressure or" the engine, When an explosion occurs, the pressure cannotescape into the upper portion of the angular recess ,2 except by passing between the balls, and. in this Way the pressure will lift the balls and carry them up Ward until the pressure is equalized at all points in said recess, and then the balls will fall to their lower position. "lhus the movable cleaning means is operable by the internal pressure of the engine, so that the required cleaning action Will take place even in an engine in which there is very little jarring or vibrat1on. Furthermore, it will he ner with the binding seen that the cleaning means forms no part of the means for producing the sparks, for the electrodes 1' and 2 form the spark ap, and these electrodes are stationary. e electrode 1 is grounded its connection With the sock t piece A, hut the-electrode 2 is connected in usual or any manor st 3 at the upper end of the plug, so that the sparks are produced in the gap between the two electrodes When said binding post is properly connected with the ignition apparatus ordinarily provided.

for this purpose. The movable cleaning means, however, does not interfere with the sparkin means of the plug, for the spark gap is ormed by the two stationary electrodes which are located a fixed distance apart. Thus the plug comprises means in addition to the regular or any suitable sparking means, for automatically keeping the spark 'plu clean, and the cleaning means thus provide isoperable by the explosions or internal pressure, as Well as icy the vibration or jolting of the engine, so that to engagement with said cleaning means, and m away that tends to prevent the hall,

or balls from becoming wedged or held against movement. When made of pores-- lam, or anyothensultable non-conducting or lnsulatingimaterial, the said ball or halls Wlll not short-circuit the electric current, and cannot form a conducting medium. for the current in any way. Moreover,

plurality oi balls is employed, they turn and rotate in various directions and rub against each other, so that each hall is kept clean and free from carbon, as Well as the surface of the plu I What I claim as my invention is l. A spark plug for internal combustion engines, having movable means operated by the action of the engine and includin one or more elements formed to roll around and turn and move bodily in various directions on the surface of the plug, to prevent the accumulation of carbon around the inner end-portion oi the plug, and stationary electrodes formin a spark gap and provisions to prevent sai means from getting into the path or? the spear i.

2 The said structure, as specified in claim 1, in which said means comprise an annular series of loose halls disposed alcove said electrodes and in position to move freely up and down in sliding and rolling contact with the surface to he kept clean, and with each other, i

3 in spark plug, movable means ope'rated the action of theengine to pre vent the accumulation of carlzon around the inner end portion of? the plug, and a removalole cylindric ine nher oi insulatin material, with an annular space surrounding the inner endportion' oi said member, said means comprising a plurality of elements whi h are movable up and down in said. space by the explosions and vilorations oi the engine.

4;. in a spark plug, movahle means ope"- ated by the action or? the engine to prevent the accumulation. of carbon around theinner end portion of the plug, and a cylindric porcelain insulator and a metal socket-piece in which said insulator is held, said means comprising a plurality of cleanin hails which are freely movahle up and own in said socket-niece n contact with the cylin dric sides of said 'nsulator.

, 5. in a spark ping, root aisle means open ated by the action of the engine to prevent the accumulation of carbon around the in ner end portion of the plug, and a metal socket-piece be screwed into the cylinder of the engine, with a centrally ,dispowd insulator in said socket-piece, and an insulatmg collar encircling the lower portion of said insulator, id means comprisin a plurality of halls incl i by said col an and movable freely rip and down in contact with said insulator.

6. A spark plug to? internal combustion engines, the internal pressure or the engine and in eluding one or more loose elements shaped. to roll around and rotate in various directions on the surface of the plug, and to slide bodily in various direct-ions on said surface, to prevent the accumulation of caraving movahls means operahle hy lllll aoaaeo H1 bon around the inner end portion 0% the ner end portion of the plug, said means 00111:;

plug. prising one or more balls loosely arranged 7. A structure as specified in claim 6, said to roll around in various directions on the means being movable upward by the intersurface to be kept clean, and said lug have 5 nal pressure, in sliding contact with the suring electrodes operating indepen ently of 15 face to be cleaned, and movable downward sald ball or balls to produce the sparking by gravity. action.

8. In a spark plug, movable means oper- Signed by me at Toledo, Ohio, this 28 day ated by the action of the engine to prevent of April 1917.

10 the accumulation of carbon around the in- HUBERT A. MYERS. 

